WPL 2023: RCB-W vs GG-W - Preview, Pitch Report, Live Score, Fantasy Tips
Mandhana plays a shot against DC (BCCI)
The Royal Challengers Bangalore and Gujarat Giants will square-off in match number six of the ongoing Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2023 season.
After sustaining heavy defeats in the initial stages of the tournament, both sides will be hunting for their opening points when they take field at Mumbai’s Brabourne Stadium.
Team Preview
RCB-W
The RCB Women suffered two demoralising losses upfront in their first two games this WPL 2023 season. For starters, they fell 60 runs behind a professional Delhi Capitals unit on March 5.
The very next day, they squandered their 155-run total to Mumbai Indians’ run-chase rampage with more than five overs still intact in the game. Notably, both these defeats occurred at the same venue, the Brabourne Stadium.
With the iconic Mumbai venue also slated to host RCB’s next fixture against fellow winless Gujarat Giants, Smriti Mandhana and co. will be aiming to rectify their mistakes and resort to winning ways as quickly as possible.
For that to happen, captain Mandhana needs to overcome her batting woes, considering her failure to capitalise on her starts on both occasions. Other star-attractions like Ellyse Perry, Richa Ghosh, Renuka Singh and Megan Schutt also need to click together if RCB are to entertain any chances of a spot in the playoffs.
GG-W
Gujarat Giants were handed a 143-run pounding at the hands of Harmanpreet Kaur’s Mumbai Indians in the opening match of the season. Led by Australian-import Beth Mooney, they were dusted out for just 64 in response to Mumbai Indians’ 207.
The situation worsened for the Giants with skipper Mooney also succumbing to an injury earlier in the season. They played under interim captain Sneh Rana and snared a defeat from the claws of a comfortable win in the final over, courtesy of UP Warriorz’ Grace Harris and her run-chase brilliance.
At this stage, the Gujarat Giants sits alongside RCB in terms of winless record at the points table. However, they are placed at the bottom of the five-team standings due to their inferior net run-rate.
Match Details
Date & Time: March 8, 7:30 PM IST
Venue: Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai
Live Telecast & Streaming: Sports18, Jio Cinema
Pitch Report
The conditions at Mumbai’s Brabourne Stadium generally favours batters. After the two WPL 2023 matches played at the venue so far, the average first innings score has been 189.
The scoring rate in Brabourne has also been striking this year, with Delhi Capitals amassing 223 upfront in the first match played here this season. In the subsequent fixture, the Mumbai Indians chased down RCB’s 155-run total with nearly six overs to spare.
Probable Playing XI
RCB-W: Smriti Mandhana (c), Sophie Devine, Ellyse Perry, Disha Kasat, Richa Ghosh (wk), Heather Knight, Kanika Ahuja, Megan Schutt, Shreyanka Patil, Preeti Bose and Renuka Thakur Singh.
GG-W: Sabbhineni Meghana, Sophia Dunkley, Sushma Verma (wk), Ashleigh Gardner, Annabel Sutherland, Dayalan Hemalatha, Harleen Deol, Sneh Rana (c), Kim Garth, Mansi Joshi and Tanuja Kanwar.
Cricket Exchange Fantasy Tips
Wicketkeeper: Richa Ghosh
Batters: Smriti Mandhana, Sabbhineni Meghana, Harleen Deol, Sushma Verma, Heather Knight
All-Rounders: Ashleigh Gardner, Ellyse Perry
Bowlers: Renuka Thakur Singh, Mansi Joshi, Megan Schutt
Captain: Smriti Mandhana
Vice-Captain: Ashleigh Gardner
Prediction
The RCB Women are expected to come up trumps against the Gujarat Giants, owing to their star-studded line-up.
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